By David Ponce

We think that there’s a point of diminishing returns when it comes to audio equipment. There’s a good difference between a $30 set of PC speakers and a $1,000 system. But the difference between that $1,000 system and say, one that costs $20,000 is that you’ll be $19,000 poorer and immeasurably stupider for it. Of course, audiophiles will disagree and find all manners of reasons to justify the expense; we won’t get into an argument here. Suffice it to say we were not impressed with the Blackbody, an Ambient Field Conditioner. It’s a box that doesn’t make any sounds. It doesn’t even amplify. Really, all it claims to do is sit there and somehow “enhance audio playback quality by modifying the interaction of your gear’s circuitry with the ambient electromagnetic field. The Blackbody eliminates sonic smearing of high frequencies and lowers the noise floor, thus clarifying the stereo image.” It’s $1,323. For an audio accessory.

[ Product Page ] VIA [ BoingBoing ]

By David Ponce

Not that it has anything remotely to do with technology, gadgets, or something you can ever hope to get your hands on… but the coin you see above should tickle your geek cells anyway. It’s made by the Perth Mint of Australia, weighs over a ton and based on current gold prices should be worth around $57.34million. Created to “mark the opening ceremony of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that will be held in Australia”, the coin has an “Ian Rank Broadley portrait of Queen Elizabeth II’s image [on one side ]” and a kangaroo on the other. It measures 12cm thick (almost 5 inches) by 80cm across (about 31.5 inches) and after taking 18 months to complete, the going is now on public display.

VIA [ Born Rich ]

By David Ponce

So that’s $300 for a fancy chrome plated contraption to squeeze every last drop of toothpaste out of the tube. You know you need this because it’s: 1) Made in Italy. 2) Handcrafted. 3) Has a base made of Perspex (what the heck is that?). 4) Will one-up your friends in a way that’s always made you such a lovable character.

You could of course accomplish the same thing with this inexpensive looking alternative but that would inevitably kick your pompous factor down a few notches.

By the way, could we interest you in some $2,800 headphones?

[ Cedes Toothpaste Squeezer ] VIA [ Gizmodo ]